Typewriting machine



J. C. DOANE TYPEWRITING MACH INE Jan. 29 1924.

Filed March 14 1921 bined aligning scale and cardholder.

Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

UNE'EED STATES JOHN C. DUANE, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERRVOOD TYPE- PATENT OFFICE.

WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed March 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN G. DoANE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-writing Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more particularly to a paperguard to prevent the bottom edge of a sheet from catching on the ribbon-spools when the platen is shifted from upper-case to'lowercase position. It further relates to a com- The invention is illustrated as applied to an Underwood standard typewriting machine.

When it is desired to write almost on the very bottom edge of a work-sheet or card, the aligning scale-plate assists in holding the work-member or work-sheet on the platen. if the platen should be shifted to upper case, however, where the scale-plate does not move to the upper-case position of the platen, the lower edge of the work-member tends to move away from the platen, and in returning to lower-case position catches on the line gage and also on the casings for the ribbonspools. To overcome this difficulty, the aligning scale-plate is connected to the caseshift mechanism to shift with the platen to upper and lower-case positions, thus maintaining the same relation with respect to the platen at all times. To further aid in overcoming the above-mentioned difficulty, the scale-plate is provided with a pair of upstanding fingers, one to either side of the printing point, which project upwardly and thus prevent the sheet from creeping out above the scale-plate. To guard against the ends of the work-sheet catching on the rib bon-spool casings when the platen is lowered from upper-case position guard members shiftable with the scale-plate, one to either side thereof, tend to hold the work-sheet to the platen at points near the ends of said sheet. These guards are yieldingly mounted so that, as the sides of the carriage pass over them, they are depressed out of the way, as it is desired that their range shall be above the lowest projection of the sides of the carriage in whose path they lie.

The aligning plate is adapted for use also as a card-holder. For this purpose, it is piv- Serial 'N'O. 452,221.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a vertical sectionthrough the center of an Underwood typewriting ma chine, with the invention applied thereto, only the necessary co-operating elements of the machine being shown.

Figure 2 is a disassembled perspective view of one-half of the device, the other half being similar.

Flgure 3 1s a vertical section of the cardholding scale-plate, showing the details of an interponent between the scale-plate and the frame, on which said plate is mounted.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 1, and shows the relation of the guards to the ribbon-spool casings.

Figure 5 is a front view of the device attached to the segment of an ordinary typewriter.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the device shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail, partly sectioned, showing the spring mounting of a paper-guard.

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

The device shown as attached to the usual Underwood typewritin machine, in which type-keys (not shown) operate keylevers (not shown) to rock bell-cranks 1. so as to. swing type-bars 2 upwardly and rearwardly against the front side of platen 3 fixed on an axle l, the latter being journaled in the end walls of the platen-frame 5. The platen-frame is mounted for vertical movement on carriage 6 by arms 7 Sup porting the platen-frame and pivotally mounted on the carriage. The carriage 6 has the usual step-by-step movement at the actuation ottjthc-t-ype-keys under the control of the usual escapement mechanism (not shown). Each of the type-bars has two characters 9 and 10 for printing in lower and upper-case positions, respectively. The type-bars are guided in their movement by a comb 8 at the lower edge of a segment ll fixed to the frame of the machine.

The shit'table platen-frame 5 rides by means of a roller l3 on a shift-rail 14. The shift-rail is mounted on a shiit't-i ra me l5 pivoted at 16. To rock the shift-frame and thus raise the platenB for upper-case writing, there is provided a shift-key (not shown) operating a key-lever 18 to swing an 19 forwardly. Arm 19 "bears against shift-frame at the rear thereof, and thus rocks the shift-frame upwardly to raisethe platen when the shift-key is depressed.

Adapted to be attached to the shift-rail 14 is a bracket 20 fixed to the rail by screws 21 and having a depending portion terminating in a right-angularly disposed 22, from which projects a pin Said pin lodges in. an opening at one end ot-a bent link 24, whose other end is pivotally-moun=;- ed at 25 by means of a shouldered screw 26 to a downwardly-entending stem'Z-BO of the scale-plate and paper-guard mechanism. Said stem is bent at 31 to clear a projection 32 at the rear of the typew'iter segment.

The stem branches out at right angles in two directions at its upper end, t0 term a frame. The two branches 38-and 34 thus termed are s nnmetrically disposed with respect to, the printing po1nt,'and serve as vided with similar slots 41. and 42. Mount ed on brackets 43 and 44 fixed on the front :e of the segment are rollers 45 and 46 ving radially elongated portions on their peripheries forming flanges 47 and 48 adapted to operate in slots 42 and 41, respectively, and thus prevent lateral displace ment of the stem and its attached mocha ni'sm. The branches, in moving up and nown, ride upon the flattened portions of the roller peripheries.

A similar roller 49 is mounted on a bracket 50 on the rear of the segment and adapted to co-operate with the other side of the stem in the slot 40. The stem and its attached mechanism are thus constrained to move in a vertical direction between the front and rear rollers.

The aligning scale-plate 60, having its upper edge graduated in letter-space divisions as usual, is provided with upwardly-projecting fingers 61 and 62. The lower end of the plate terminates in bent portions 68, 64, 65, of which 63 and 65 form bearings tor bolts 66 supported in bearings 67 and 68 on the upper ends of brackets 69 and 70 adjustabl fixed to branches 34 and 33. re speetively. The bent portion 64 provides clearance for the heads of the bolts 66 and also tends to stiffen the scale-plate. In this manner the scale-plate is pivotally mounted on the stem and adapted to move therewith. The plate positioned on the branches substantially symmetrically to the printing point, the cut-out portion Y2 being bounded by the inner oi projection 62,-said inner edge lring immediately adjacent the printing poi t and by the inner edge of projection (3' lightly to one side of the printing point to expose several preceding letter-spaces. The platcGO may be adjusted all directions in a vertical plane by means of screws .37 operating in enlarged openings 58 in the branches and led g in screwthreaded openings 59 in the brackets 69 and TO.

The aligning plate'is normally pressed forwardly by the platen against the resistance of springs 73 and 74 coiled about the bolts 66, one end of each of the springs pressing against the respective branch 38, 34, and the other end acting on the scaleplate (see Figure 3). Springs 73 and 74 normally press plate 60 rearwardly, the plate being limited in its rearward movement by a tongue 78 integral with plate 60 and projecting below pivot bolts 66, to abut against the bracket 69. Ordinarily, there is some clearance space left for the "forward movement of thescale-nlate, even after theplate has been pressed iorwardly by the platen. The forward movement of the plate is 'lim ited by an adjustable stop 80 in one of the branches (here shown as branch 34). \Vhen a thin sheet passes between the aligning plate and the platen, the tension of the springs is suilicient to hold said sheet against the platen. When a thick card is inserted, however, it is necessary to provide additional pressure. Thi is done by substantially eliminating the clearance space between the scale-plate and the stop 80, so'that the plate does not rotate against the springs, but is held firmly in position adjacent the platen. The card must weogc its way between the scale-plate and the platen by relying upon the give of the various elements against which it presses. To eliminate sub stantially all of the clearance space between the aligning plate and stop Si), there is provided a small bell-crank lever 81 pivoted on the plate, one arm of said lever being provided with a finger-piece 82, and the other arm88 being adapted to be swung in front of the stop 80, -thus substantially filling the space between plate 60 and stop 80. The bell-crank is normally pressed against the plate by the end of spring 73, which would ordinarily press against the aligning plate. The upwardly-projecting lingers 61 and 62 are curved to conform to the curvature of the platen and will assist the ribbon-spool casings 29 (see. Figure 4 there are provided guards and 91pivotally mounted on plates'92 and 93, and having their highest points substantially in alignment with the aligning edge of plate 60. Said plates are fixed to the branches 33 and 34 at the rear thereor by means of screws 106, 10? passing therethrough. The guards 90 and 91 are pivotally mounted on the plates, so that, when in raised or uppercase position, they may be depressed by the carriage-frame in passing thereover, and,

to further facilitate the depression of the guards, the latter are formed with double cam-surfaces 94 and 95. The aligning plate 60 is, of course, lifted to the same extent as guards 90 and 91, but it does not extend suificiently to the sides of the printing point to be engaged by the sides of the carriage.

Each guard is provided with an car 96.

adapted to embrace plate 92 or 93 to guide the guard in its vertical movement. The

pivotal mounting of each guard comprises a hub 97 on the guard passing through an opening 98 in plates 92, 9' 5, and engaged bya screw 99 threaded into the hub. A second hub 100, having a portion of its periphery cut away as at 101, is clamped between the head of the screw 99 and the end of the hub 97 A spring 102 bears against the cutout portion 101 at one end and against the end of therespective branch 33, 34, at the other end, thus normally urging hub 100, and hence hub 97 to swing the respective guard 90, 91, upwardly. Tolimit the upward movement'of guards 90 and 91, members 103, each having a horizontal'stop 104 at its outer end, adapted to engage horizontal arms 105 on ears 96, are fixed to the respective branches 33 and 34' at the front thereof. The same screws 106, 107, which fasten the plates 92 and 93 to the branches, fasten the stop members 103 thereto. The holes through which the screws 106 and 107 pass in the plates 92, 93, branches 33, 34, and stop members 103 are made progressively larger, thus permitting relative adjustment o'l. these three elements in all directions in a vertical plane.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and case-shift mechanism tor shifting said platen vertizally, ota guiding and aligning element to co-operate with said platen and pivoted for movement to and from the latter, means to cause vertical shifting of said element with said platen, a stop to limit the movement oi said guiding and aligning element away from said laten, and a manuall Y shittable member to be interposed between saidstop and said element to diminish the extent of movement of the latter away from the platen.

2.-ln a typewriting machine having a type-bar segment, the combination with a revoluble platen and means whereby said platen may be shifted vertically, of guiding and aligning means mounted on said machine adjacent said platen and provided with vertical slots, means connecting said guiding and aligning means to the shifting means, whereby said guiding and aligning means may shift simultaneously with said platen to maintain the same position, relative thereto, and means constraining said guiding and aligning means to vertical motion, said last--named means comprising rollers fixed to said segment, on either side of the guiding and aligning means, and cooperating with said slots.

3. In a typewriting 'machine having a type-bar segment, the combination with a revoluble platen and means whereby said platen may be shifted vertically, of guiding and aligning means mounted on salt machine adjacent said platen and provided with vertical slots, means connecting said guiding and aligning means to the shifting means whereby said guiding and aligning means may shift simultaneously with said platen to maintain the same position relative thereto, and means constraining said guiding and aligning means to vertical 1110tlO1'i,S&l(l last-named means comprising rollers fixed to the front and the rear of said segment, on either side of the guiding and aligning means, and co-operating with said slots.

4. in a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and case-shift mechanism to shift said platen vertically, 01 a guiding and aligning device to co-opcrate with said platen, said device comprising a supporting member movable vertically with said platen and having a vertical guideway, and means to guide said nember vertically including a roller mounted on a lixed part of the machine in position to co-operate with said guideway. V

5. In a front-strike typewriting machine the combination with a platen and caseshift mechanism to shift said platen verti cally, of a guiding and aligning device to co-operate with said platen, said device comprising a supporting member movable vertically with said platen and having a vertical guideway, and means to guide said member vertically including a roller mounted on a fixed part of the machine in position to eo-operate w th said guidcway, said roller having a portion to run on said member and a flange to enter said gui leway and prevent lateral movement of said member.

6. In a front-strike typewrting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a platen mounted on said carriage, of a ribbon-mechanism co-operating with said platen, and including casings in close juxtaosition to the line of writing on said platen, case-shift means for shittingsaid platen vertically, a pair of guards in intervening position between said asings and said platen, so as to act as deflectors to prevent an engagement of the lower edge of a workmember carried by said platen with said casings at the downward shi'tt of said platen, said guards extending upwardly to the printing line, and means connecting said guards and platen-shifting means for shifting said guards simultaneously with the platen to render them effective whenthe platen is raised.

7. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with platen and a traveling carriage therefor comprising sideshaving a slight clearance above the lower margin of the normal printing line on the platen, of a ribbon-mechanism co-operating with said platen, and including casings in close juxtaposition to the line of writing on. said platen, case-shift means for shifting said platen vertically, a pair 0t guards extending upwardly to the printing line and being in intervening position between said casings and said platen to act as deflectors to prevent an engagement of the lower edge of a work-member carried by said platen with said casings at the downward shift of said platen, yieldable connections between said guards and platen-shitting means for shifting said guards simultaneously with the platen to maintain them in eliective position relatively to the platen, and means on said guards and said carriage to cause the guards,

when in raised position, to be depressed when engaged by said sides oi? the carriage.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and a traveling carriage therefor comprising sides having a slight clearance above the lower margin of the normal printing line on thcplaten, ot' a ribbon-mechanism co-operating with said platen, and including casings in close juxtaposition to the line of writing on said platen, case-shift means tor shifting said platen vertically, a central work-holderand aligning gage, a pair oi guards extending upwardly to the printing line and being 1n 1ntervening position between said casings and said platen to act as deflectors to prevent an engagement of a work-member carried by said platen with said casings, means connecting said aligning gage and said guides to the platen-shifting means to be shifted simultanoously withthe platen and maintained in effective position relative thereto, said guards being pivoted on said connecting means to swing downwardly in a plane substantiallytangential to the platen at the printing line, and means on said guards and on thesides of said carriage to cause the guards, when .in raised position, tobe depressed when engaged, by the sides, of the c: rriage, the aligning plate; being so narrow as to lie between the inward limitingposisaid casings, means connecting said guards and platen-shifting.means, whereby said guards are shifted simultaneously with the platen to maintain the same position relative thereto, means constraining said connecting means and guards to vertical movement, said guards being pivoted on said connecting means at their inner ends, springs normally maintaining said guards in elevated position, and stops mounted on said connecting means for limiting the upward movement of said guards, said stops being adjustable in all directions in a vertical plane to vary the limiting positions of the guards, said guards being depressible against the action of said springs when said carriage passes thereover. i

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a platen mounted on said carriage, of a ribbon-mechanism co-operating with said platen, and including casings in close juxtaposition to the line of writing on said platen, means whereby said platen may be shifted, a pair of guards extending at their outer ends in intervening position between said casings and said platen, so as to act as deflectors preventing an engagement of a work-member carried by said platen with said casings, means connecting said guards and platen-shifting means, whereby said guards are shifted simultaneously with the platen to maintain the same position relat-ive thereto, and means constraining said connecting means and guards to vertical movement, said guards being pivoted 011 said connecting means at their inner ends, so that said carriage may depress the guards when it passes thereover, said connecting means comprising ameinber having outweirdly-extending branches at its upper end,

said guards each having an ear overhanging the respective branch to guide the guard in its pivotal movement.

11. In a typewriting machine, the com,- bination with a revolublc platen and means for shifting said platen vertically, of a combined wr1t1ng-line aligning gage and card-holder mounted adjacent said platen, outwardly-extending guide-arms having their highest port-ions substantially at the printing line, and means for connecting said guide-arms and combined gage and holder to the shifting means to be shiftable simultaneously with said platen to main tain the same position relative thereto.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage and means for shifting said platen vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means, and guided for vertical movement, said member terminating at its upper end in outwardlyeXtending branches, a combined aligning gage and card-holder pivotally mounted on said branches for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, and a guard projecting laterally from each of said branches to aid in holding the side edges of a work-sheet against the platen, said gage and holder and guards shifting with said member simultaneously with said platen, to maintain the same position relative thereto.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage and means wherer by said platen may be shifted vertically,

of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, said member terminating in outwardlyextending branches at its upper end,

combined aligning gage and card-holder pivotally mounted on said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, a plate fastened to each branch, a guard pivoted on each plate to aid in bold ing a work-member against the platen, springs normally pressing said guards upwardly, said carriage depressing said guards against the action of said springs when passing thereover, a stop on each plate for limiting the upward movement of the guards, said stops, plates and said branch and its attached gage and holder being relatively adjustable in a vertical plane, and a single fastening means for clamping said adjustable parts in adjusted position.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage, whereby said platen may be shifted vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, a combined ali ing gage and holder pivotally mounted on said member for for and means ward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, said gage and holder being adjust able relatively to said member in all directions in. a vertical plane, and means for fastening the adjustable parts in adjusted position.

15. In a typewritingz; machine, the com- .bination with a carriagc, a revoluble piaten mounted on'rsaid carriage, andmeans for shifting said platen vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on the upper end of said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, and a spring normally pressing said gage and holderrearwardly against the platen. said gage and holder shifting when said platen is shifted to maintain the same position relative thereto.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage, and means whereby said platen may be shifted vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, a

platen is shifted to maintain the same position relative thereto.

17. In a typewritingmachine. the combi nation with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage, and means whereby said platen ma be shifted vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided. for vertical movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, a spring normally pressing said gage and holder rearwardly against the platen, there being a clearance space between said member and said gage and holder enabling forward movement of the gage and holder, and means for increasing the pressure of said gage and holder against the platen when a stiff or thick work-member is to be typed, said last-named means comprising an inter ponent mountedon said gage and holder and adapted to fill said clearance space and decrease the forward movement of said gage and holder.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combinationwith a carriage, a revolubleplaten mounted on said carriage, and means where'- by said platen may be shifted vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical. movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, a spring normally pressing said gage and holder rearwardly against the platen, there being a clearance space between said member and said gage and holder enabling forward movement of the gage and holder, and means for increasing. the pressure of said gage and holder against the platen when a stiff or thick work-memberis to be typed, said lastnamed means comprising a bell-crank mounted on said gage and holder between the latter and said member and adapted to be rotated at will to swing one arm thereofso as, to fill said clearance space and decrease the forward movement of said gage and holder.

19. In a typewriting machine comprising a platen, a scale-plate 'mounted adjacent said platen, said scale-plate being provided with a slot, the right edge of said slot lying adjacent the printing point, and the left edge of said slot being removed from the printing point to expose preceding letterspaces.

20. In a typewriting machine comprising a platen,a combinedscale-plate and cardholder mounted adjacent said platen, and comprising two spaced, upwardly-projecting fingers bearing against said platen, the inner edge of the right finger lying adjacent the printing point, and the inner edge of the left finger being removed from the printing point to expose preceding letterspaces.

21. In a typewriting machine, the com bination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage, and means whereby said platen may be shifted vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, said gage and holder being provided with a slot, the right edge of said slot lying adjacent the printing point, and the left edge of said slot being removed from the printing point to expose prereding-lotlezspaccs, said gage and holder being adjustal'ile rel'a lively to said member in all dire in a vertical plane to adjust the position of the slot relative to the printing point. and, means for fastening the adjustable parts in adjusted position. i

22. In a front-strike typewritiug nzachine. tle combination with a platen and case-shift mechanism for shifting said platen vertically, of a g1: :ling and aligning element to co-operate with said platen and pivoted for movement to and from the lattor, means to cause vertical shifting of said element with said platen, a stop to limit the movement of said guiding and aligning ele ment away from said aten, a manually shi'l'table member to be interposed between said stop and said element to diminish the extent of movement of thelatter away from the platen, and a spring to urge said element toward the platen and to detain said shiftable member in either effective or in effective position.

23. In a typewriting machine, the cont bination with a carriage, a revoluble platen mounted on said carriage, and means for shifting said platen vertically, of a member connected to the shifting means and guided for vertical movement, a combined aligning gage and holder pivotally mounted on the upper end of said member for forward and rearward movement adjacent the platen, a spring normally pressing said gage and holder rearwardly against the platen. said gage and holder shifting when said platen is shifted to maintain the same position relative thereto. an adjustable stop on the vertically-movable member for variably limiting the forward movement of the combined gage and holder, and an interponent shiftable into position between said stop and. the combined gage and holder to decrease the forward movement of the latter.

JOHN C. DUANE.

lVitnesses FRANK A. Coon, EDNARD A. BURNs.

[ill 

